Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Pat Sloan: Quilt Label Writing Round Up

The other day I showed you how I made Triangle labels (click here), and then I had a lot of questions about what should you write with so it won't fade. I did a bit of research and here is my round up!

I asked around to find out what people are using to label their quilts. I found out

Sharpies (ulta fine points) HEAT SET

Pigma pens HEAT SET

Ink Jet printers HEAT SET

Hand Embroider

Machine Embroider

Machine Quilt

Then I did a little more research to find you some articles where people did testing or shared how they did the type of label you are interested in.

The over all theme is if you write it or print it.. heat set and test before putting in your quilt.

If your quilt is not washed much, most inks or ink jets will be great. It's when you want to wash the item a LOT hat fading seems to occur. Here is a collection of thoughts I found.

My good friend Michelle of Quilting Gallery sent me this photo of her pens and the following analysis

---Top two .. good quality, but I haven't been as happy with the staying dark after washing.---Sharpie are good, but even ultra fine can seep into the fabric and run. Use a very light touch.---Bic and Sharpie laundry marker, a bit thick, not much experience with them.---Bottom one, pigma micron, I've had good results with this one. More expensive and doesn't last that long.

For all, starch, starch, starch the heck out the fabric .. so it's super stiff, like paper. Not only is it much easier to write on, but it will absorb the ink better and less likely to smudge or run. Especially important with Sharpies. Some Sharpie markers are better than others, in terms of how much ink comes out and how light of a touch is needed. Test on sample with same amount of starch. I usually write in the seam allowance. Different fabrics will produce different results too. Some take the Sharpie well, but others don't, it just soaks in. Don't like tone-on-tone for labels, can't get consistent lettering. The printed part absorbs ink differently.

At the Anitque quilt group on facebook one lady said that "My Pigma brown seems to have lasted the best in my thirty plus years of quilt making. Though these days, I am machine quilting my signature into my work or making a label with machine embroidery"

Comments

Pat Sloan: Quilt Label Writing Round Up

The other day I showed you how I made Triangle labels (click here), and then I had a lot of questions about what should you write with so it won't fade. I did a bit of research and here is my round up!

I asked around to find out what people are using to label their quilts. I found out

Sharpies (ulta fine points) HEAT SET

Pigma pens HEAT SET

Ink Jet printers HEAT SET

Hand Embroider

Machine Embroider

Machine Quilt

Then I did a little more research to find you some articles where people did testing or shared how they did the type of label you are interested in.

The over all theme is if you write it or print it.. heat set and test before putting in your quilt.

If your quilt is not washed much, most inks or ink jets will be great. It's when you want to wash the item a LOT hat fading seems to occur. Here is a collection of thoughts I found.

My good friend Michelle of Quilting Gallery sent me this photo of her pens and the following analysis

---Top two .. good quality, but I haven't been as happy with the staying dark after washing.---Sharpie are good, but even ultra fine can seep into the fabric and run. Use a very light touch.---Bic and Sharpie laundry marker, a bit thick, not much experience with them.---Bottom one, pigma micron, I've had good results with this one. More expensive and doesn't last that long.

For all, starch, starch, starch the heck out the fabric .. so it's super stiff, like paper. Not only is it much easier to write on, but it will absorb the ink better and less likely to smudge or run. Especially important with Sharpies. Some Sharpie markers are better than others, in terms of how much ink comes out and how light of a touch is needed. Test on sample with same amount of starch. I usually write in the seam allowance. Different fabrics will produce different results too. Some take the Sharpie well, but others don't, it just soaks in. Don't like tone-on-tone for labels, can't get consistent lettering. The printed part absorbs ink differently.

At the Anitque quilt group on facebook one lady said that "My Pigma brown seems to have lasted the best in my thirty plus years of quilt making. Though these days, I am machine quilting my signature into my work or making a label with machine embroidery"

FTC Disclosure

Flash Sale

Sign up for Pat's Newsletter

Federal Trade Commission Disclosure

The FTC requires us to tell you (just in case you haven't figured it out) that Pat Sloan is paid by Meredith Corporation to host the APQ Podcast show. Pat is paid or provided products by other companies in the course of her business. She also provides advertising space and affiliate links for which she receives payments or commissions. This is how she makes a living and pays her bills. The FTC requires us to advise you to take this information into consideration when evaluating what Pat says and writes. In addition, we are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.